Two teenagers of a female-led Japanese dance group have been attacked in front of fans by a man wielding a large saw.

The 24-year-old was arrested by police on Sunday, about 1pm, after he evaded a large contingent of security who were patting down people and checking bags on entry to the AKB48 concert.

It was being staged at a convention centre, in front of about 100 fans in the north eastern Japanese city of Takizawa. The attacker has been identified as Satoru Umeta.

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Members of a popular Japanese dance troupe where attacked during a concert on Sunday in which one girl was left hospitalised.

Anna Iriyama, left, underwent surgery after receiving a blow to the head in the attack. Rina Kawaei was also taken to hospital with injuries she sustained to her hands

AKB48 is a wildly popular song and dance troupe throughout Japan, and has a big following outside the country in Indonesia, China and Taiwan.

Reports said the man came at the girls with a 50-centimetre saw while they where lining up to shake hands with performers inside booths.

Kawaei and Iriyama were both inside the same booth when the man in the queue suddenly produced a saw, the Yomiuri daily said.

Fans told Japanese media they heard a shriek, apparently from one of the young women, translated as saying: 'Stop it!'.

One of the managers for the 140-member girl group told public broadcaster NHK that Anna Iriyama, 18, was hit in the head with the weapon and underwent surgery on Sunday night.

Staff members speak with a security guard following the incident on Sunday

A statement on the group's official blog said that both 18-year-old Anna Iriyama and 19-year-old Rina Kawaei received cuts to the hands and heads and were transported to hospital.

The group's record company also released a statement saying: 'Members Anna Iriyama, Rina Kawaei and a venue staff member were assaulted with an edged weapon that caused injury to their hands,' it read.